jacobs



E. H. JACOBS June 7, 1927. 1,631,268

ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed May 14 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6mm? Ema/853v H- Jacoba DyflrMW /w MW C(iko neys June 7' 1927.

E. H. JACOBS ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed May 14 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm-v lllllllllllllllllllll'll Emma} H. Jacobs L mormys Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED .STA'TESPATENT OFFICE.

HLJ'ACOBS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

Application filed May 14,

' My invention relates to improvements in electric switches, and more particularly to the protection of electrical switch cont-acts whichare exposed to severe weather conditions.

Heretofore, the protection. of the electrical contacts of this character of switch has been a difficult matter, in that, under severe weather conditions the contacting surfaces become coated with ice, sleet, frost or the like. The trend of development along this line has been toward providing .a sleet hood upon the stationary contact member, which, of course, only protects the movable contact during engagement of the contacts. The switches of the prior artand particularly those, upon which attempts have been made to mount sleet hoods, have been handicapped by their complicated construction, involving a number of relatively cumbersome parts, preventing the terminal conductors from being easily attached or moved; Such practical difficulties have hindered the adoption of sleet hoods, notwithstanding the result of having the blades inoperable after exposure to sleet and ice. Switches of the prior art having sleet hoods are generally poorly adapted to the provision of auxiliary contacts to carry the are upon disengagement of the main contacts. I

My invention provides for overcoming the above difliculty and for securing other incidental advantages by: i

(A) Simplified construction of the sleet hood, 1

(B) Simplifying the arrangement of the hoods,

(C) Protecting the contacts during engagement and disengagement,

(1)) The provision of a sleet hood on each contact member, and

(E) Providing means forcarrying the arc away from the main contacts after the circuit has been broken. I M

In accordance with the teachings of my invention, the movable switch-blade carries a pivotal member, which cooperates with a stationary sleet-hood member, rigidly mounted upon the stationary contact. The movable blade carries the movable hood member, which is pivoted adjacent the end 1920. Serial No. 381,234.

of the blade and completely houses the same, thereby preventing the deposit of sleet and ice thereto during disengagement. The stationary hood may be mounted on the blade or both hoods may be movable. Each of these hoods'are provided with sparking horns, and as the switch is thrown, the separation of the main contact occurs before the separation of the sparking horns, thereby permitting the horn to carry the arc.

The novel details in the construction and arrangement of parts of a structure embodying theinvention will be apparent from the following detailed specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein a con venient embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be restricted to the specific embodiment shown herein, because, as will be obvious, other embodiments may be resorted to without in the least departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Flgure 1 is a front elevational view of a switch embodying my invention, showing the hoods in position they occupy when the switch members are in contact;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the switch blades and their cooperating parts;

Figure 3 is a detail vertical cross sectional view ofthe sleet hoods; r

Figure 4- is a similar view showing the end of the switch blade provided with a relatively stationary hood and the stationary contact provided with a relatively movable hood, and

prises a terminal base 7 from which projects a pair of spaced lugs '8, extending outwardly from the opposite edges thereof. The upper and lower switch terminals are mounted by means of the terminal bases 6 and 7, upon suitable angle brackets 9 and 10.

The angle-brackets 9 and 10 are mounted in this case upon insulator clamps 11 and 12 H of any known or preferred type, although those disclosed in my copending application No. 27%,159, filed January 31st, 1919, have been found to be preferable. The insulator clamps 11 and 12 are mounted upon the upper ends of the inclined insulators 13 and 1 1, the lower ends of which inclined insulators. are mounted upon inclined pedestals 15 and 16, whichpedestals are in turn mounted upon channel base mounting 17. The channel base mounting 17 as shown in .Figure 1 is mounted in a vertical position, but a horizontal or inclined position is-as equally suitable for the purpose.

The terminal bases 6 and 7 .are provided with means for receiving socket terminals 18 and 19. The conductors 20 are suitably secured in the socket inthe usualmanner.

The movable part of :the switch illus- -trated comprises trussed blades'21 and 22 of the floating blade type, although the type of blade and .in fact the mounts therefor are not of the essence of this invention. The blades 21 and 22 are clamped and hinged at one end to the projecting lugs 8 upon the shank of-the bolt 23, and by means of spring-washers 24 a uniform spring pressure is maintainedby the blades against the lugs 8. These lugs '8 are kept uniformly spaced'by the spacing sleeve 25 carried by the shankof the bolt 23. Suitable channel spacing members 26 are employed and interposed between the blades 21 and 22, so that a proper space relation is maintained throughout the length of the blades.

The free ends of the blades 21 and 22 are held together firmly against the opposite sides of the terminal lugs 5 through suitable spring washers 27 hearing against the guiding clips or brackets 28. These clips 28 are of a T-formation. of which two legs extend parallel to the blades and are bolted thereto bv bolts 29. The projeeting end 30 of the other leg of-the T- shaped clip 28 curves down and adjacent the terminal lugs 5, thus providing means to insure proper guiding of the blades 21 and 22 upon the lugs 5. r

The switch is operated by means of a movable insulator 31 interposed betweenthe two stationary insulators 13 and 1 1. The outer end of the insulator 31 is provided with an insulator clamp32, which insulator clamp is adapted to carry suitablelugs 33. A lever arm 34;, the lower end of which is pivoted at 35 to the angle bracket 10. is centrally pivoted to the lug 33. The projecting end of this lever arm 34 is provided with a lifting shoe 36 which engages and carries the blades 21 and 22 out of engagement with the stationary contact 5 upon initial actuation of the operating mechanism. which will hereinafter he described. The upper ends of the links 37 and 38 are pivoted upon'the shank of the bolt 39, be-

mechanism to close the switch, the links 37 and 38, being pivoted to the lug 33, will carry the blades into engagement with the stationary contact 5.

Thelower end of the insulator is mounted upon an insulator clamp '39 carrying a socket member 48 into which the threaded portion of the rod 41 is carried. The other endof-the-rod tl is carried by a crank arm &8. The crank arm 18 is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 12, which is provided with an arm 13 having pivotal connection with-the socket member 44. The socket member 14 has mounted therein a rod 45, which rod may extend to any suitable remote distance from the switch for operation =thereof.

This part of the device is not concerned with my present invention but is fully disclosed and claimed in pending application, Serial No. 301,718, filed June 4,1919.

Referring more particularlyito Figure 3, the upper terminal base 6, carrying the stationary contact lug 5 and which is mounted upon the angle bracket 9, has bolted thereto a vertical stationary housing member 50. This member 50 is open at its lower end to permit'the stationary contact to :pass'there thru. As heretofore described, the terminal socket member 19 is carried by a bolt 51.

which projects thru the-terminalbase Sand -11glCll V secures thereto the housing member 50. The member 50 has mounted on the under side and projecting from the upper edge a suitable electrode sparking horn 52 which may beeasily and readily replaced.

The free ends of the blades 21 and 22, which engage with the contacts 5, have pivotally mounted at 56 a cooperating sleet hoodmember 53. The member 53 is open on one side, the other sides thereof being closed, thereby affording maximum protectionto the contact tips of the blades 21 and 22 from sleet and ice. The spring 54 has one end fastened to the lower bolt and the other end is fastened to the sleet hood member in any suitable manner. A cooperating sparking horn 54 is carried by the sleet-hood member and has extending from the opposite edges thereof two web guiding members 55. These guiding members 55 insure proper alignment of the electrode upon engagement with the elec- 'trode 52. 'VVhen-the switch blades 21 and 22 are moved outward or disengaged, the

tension of the spring radially swings'the ent'that inclosingthe switch, engagement of IOU auxiliary arcing contact 54 with auxiliary arcing contact 52 moves hood 53 about 1ts pivot 56 out of covering position over the contact ends of blades 21 and 22 when the switch is closed. Spring 54 first delays separation of auxiliary arcing contacts 52 and 54 and then returns hood 54 to itscovering position as the switch is opened.

Referring'to Figure 4, wherein a modified formof sleet hood arrangement is shown, an

annular guide member 57 is suitably secured upon the stationary contact member 5. The sleet hood sleeve is slidably mounted upon the member 57 and is held under tension of the spring 58. The projecting free end of the terminal base 6 is formed into a terminal socket 19 and in which is suitably secured the conductor 20. One end of the spring 58 is suitably fastened to the terminal socket 19, the other end of the spring is fastened to a lug 59 formed upon the sleet hood 60. The top of the sleet hood 60 has a slot out there in, and a sparking horn 64 formed thereon at the outer end of the hood 60.

Atthe top of the sleet hood 62 is a sparking horn adapted for cooperation with the sparking horn 64, thus it will be readily seen that the main terminal contacts of the switch. are not obliged to carry thearc, but

' the horns 64 and65 carry the are when the circuit is broken, thereby preserving the life of the main contacts.

Upon initial movement ofthe operating rod 45, the movable insulator 31 travels in an outward movement, carrying with it the lever 34. The shoe 36 pushes the blades 21 and 22 out of contact with the terminal contacts 5. Disengagement of these contacts 21 and 22 carries the stationary sleet hood 62 outwardly. The sleet hood 62 serving as a stop member for the hood 60, when under tension of, the spring 59, permits, as it is carried outward bythe blades 21 and 22, the hood 60 to travel therewith until it moves to the extreme limitof the slot 65. By that time the main switch contacts have disengaged themselves and the sparking horns are carrying the current, but upon further movement of thehood 62, the horns 64and are separated, and the arc 15 formed therebetween. The switch may be operated in either a horizontal or a vertical position.

In the embodiment shown in Fig- 4 hood 6() is moved out of covering position in closing the switch and hood 62 covers the contact ends of blades 21 and 2 2 and the uncoveredportion of lug 5 when the switch is closed. Spring 65 delays separation of the auxiliary arcing contact and returns hood 60 tocovering position as the switch is opened.

-It is obvious to those skilled in the art that i it would constitute no departure from my invention to have both sleet hood members movable as I have shown how each one may be made movable.

lVhile I have described my invention in connection with'the details of a particular embodiment, I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to such details.

I claim:

1. In a switch, a contact member, a switch member movable into and out of contact therewith, a protecting hood for one of said members, means for moving said hood out of covering position upon movement ofthe switch member into contact with the contact member, and a protecting hood covering the other member and the portion of the member uncovered by the movement of said first hood.

2. In a switch, a pair of separable contacts, a protecting hood for one of said contacts, means for moving said hood out of protecting position in closing the switch, and a protecting hood covering the other contact and the uncovered'portion of said last named contact when said contacts are in engagement. 7

3. In a switch, a stationary contact member, a switch member movable intoand out of cont-acttherewith, a protecting hood for said switch member, means for moving said hood out of covering position upon movement of the switch member into contact with the contact member, and a stationary protecting hood covering the contact member and the uncovered portion of the switch member when the switch is closed.

*1. In a switch, a contact member, a switch member movable into and out of contact therewith, a protecting hood pivoted on the switch member and movable out of covering position upon movement of the switch memher into contact with said contact member,

a protecting hood covering the contact memher and the uncovered portion of the switch member when said switch member is in contact with the contact member and means "for returning said lirsthood to covering position upon movement of the switch member out of contact with the contact member.

5. In a switch, a contact member, a switch member movable into and out of contact therewith, a protecting hood pivoted on the switch member and movable out otcovering position upon movement of the switch memher into contact with said contact. mei'nber, aprotecting hood covering the contact memher and the uncovered portion of the switch member when said switch member is in contact with the contact member and spring means for returning said first hood to covering position upon movement of the switch member out of contact with the contact memher. 7

' 6. In a switch, amain contact member, a

sleet hood for said contact member, an auxiliary contact on said .sleet hood, a switch member cooperable with said main contact member, a sleet hood for said switch member and an auxiliary contact on said last tion by said auxiliary contacts, and a pro tecting hood covering the other main contact and the uncovered portion of said last named contact when the main contacts are in engagement.

8. In a switch, a pair of separable main contacts,'a pair 0t auxiliary arcing contacts, a sleet hood, and common means for delaying separation of the auxiliary arcing contacts and moving the sleet hood to protecting position in separating said main contacts.

9. In a switch, a main contact member, a switch member cooper-able therewith, a pair of auxiliary contacts, a sleet hood, and spring means for delaying separation of the auxiliary contacts and moving the sleet hood to protectingposition in opening the switch.

10. Ina switch, a main contact member, a pivoted switch member movable into and out of engagement with said contact membet, a pair of auxiliary arcing contacts. a protecting hood pivoted on the switch member and movable out of protecting position. by engagement oi the auxiliary contacts, a protecting hood covering the main contact member and the uncovered portion of the pivoted switch member when said switch member is in contact with said contact member, and means for delaying separation of the auxiliary contacts and returning the pivoted protecting .hood to covering position upon movement of the switch member out of contact with the main contact member.

11. In a switch, a main contact member, a switch member movable into and out of contact therewith, sleet hoods covering the contact member and the movable switch member, auxiliary arcing contacts on said hoods, and means on said auxiliary arcing contacts forgniding same into engagement.

12. In a switch, a protecting hood having a top and a depending side wall, a contact member extending through said side wall and into position beneath the top of said hood, a switch member movable into and out of engagement with said contact member, and a hood for said switch member movable into position beneath the top of said first hood in moving the switch member into contact with said contact member.

13. In a switch, the combination of a pair of main contact members, a supporting structure for said members, sleet hoods vmounted over and protecting said contact 'hoodpivotedin closeproximity to the con tacting tip of said blades, and spring means restraining'said hood during the period of engagement of said terminals and said blades, whereby upon disengagement said hood houses said contacting tip of said blades.

15. In combination, a stationary contact member, a stationary hood for protecting said contact,v member, a contactmember movable into and out of cooperation with said stationary contact member,-a hood for pro tecting the movable contact member, said movable contact member having movement relative its protecting hood .and moving from'said hood and into protected position in the stationary hood upon movement of the movablecontact into engagement with the stationarycontact.

16. Incombination, a stationary contact member, astationary .hood for protecting saidconta-ct member, a contact member movable into and out of cooperation with said stationary contactmember, and a protecting hood pivotedon the-movable contact member and permitting said movable contact member to move out of coveredposition therefrom and into covered positionin the stationary hood upon movement ot'the movable contact .member into engagement with the stationary contact member.

17. In combination, a relatively stationary contact member, a stationary protecting hood therefor, a pivoted switch blade movable into and out of contact with said stationary contact member. and a hood pivoted on the blade and normally covering the contact portionthereo't, said contact portion of tionary 'cont-act member. a hood for the blade, and means normally holding said last hood in covering position over the blade, said means permitting-the blade to move out of covered position in said hoodand into .covered position in said first hood upon closing the switch.

19. .In a disconnecting switch, a pair of insulated terminals, van intermediate insulated movable member between the'terminals, a switch knife upon one of the terminals, contact devices adapted to engage with the knife, a hood covering the contact devices and having a downwardly facing opening, electrical connections between the contact devices and the second terminal and means operating through the insulated movable member {or throwing the hood and contact devices to disconnect and connect While maintaining the opening in downwardly 10 facing position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day of May, A. I). 1920.

ERNEST H. JACOBS. 

